Chris Grayling MP, Epsom and Ewell voted to update local election procedures in Northern Ireland; introducing greater consistency with European and parliamentary elections.

The majority of MPs voted to update local election procedures in Northern Ireland; introducing greater consistency with European and parliamentary elections.

When introducing this order to the House of Commons Hugo Swire MP explained[1] that: "some minor procedural updates have been applied to European and parliamentary elections that, for consistency, should also be applied to Assembly elections." Attention was drawn to the following provisions:

Article 3 of the order makes provision to allow a candidate standing in the name of two or more parties to have one of those party's emblems on the ballot paper.

Article 3 also enables a person who cannot sign his or her signature to use a mark in place of any signature required at the nomination stage.

Article 4 requires individuals to give reasons if they request their absent vote to be sent to a different address from that at which they are registered.

This was a deferred division; as when when the motion was first put to the Commons on the 17th of November 2010 it was contested (ie. some MPs shouted "No") and it was after latest time set at which the Commons standing orders allows divisions to be held on such motions. This time beyond which most divisions cannot take place is called "moment for interruption" and is defined in Standing Order 9(3)[3] as: "ten o’clock on Mondays and Tuesdays, at seven o’clock on Wednesdays and at six o’clock on Thursdays". The standing order describing the procedures for deferred divisions is Standing Order No. 41A[3]. The division took place on the 24th of November 2010.

About the Project

The Public Whip is a not-for-profit, open source website created in 2003 by Francis Irving and Julian
Todd and now run by Bairwell Ltd.

There are lots of plans afoot, including extensive redevelopment of the site and plans for new
functionality. To keep up with what's happening, please check out the blog. We're working on updating all the contact
details throughout the site, but if you'd like to talk to us about the project, please email
[email protected]